Author Archives: The Japan Agricultural News

【People】 Shoji Tamura – the first Japanese to win Pomme d’Or in the International Cider Fair in Frankfurt (May 18, 2016)

Tamura Cidre Sweet and Tamura Cidre Brut produced by Shoji Tamura, 58, of Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture, were awarded the Pomme d’Or prize in the International Cider Fair Apfelwein Weltweit held in Frankfurt, Germany, in April. Tamura became the first Japanese to win the prize, only three years after the products were put on sale. Tamura, head of Tamura Farm, produces the brands of cider – sparkling wine made of apples – at his farm, giving weight on flavor and aroma. Talking happily about the prize, Tamura said: “Japanese cider is recognized internationally. Now I can be confident of the quality (of the products).” Born in 1958 as a son of … Continue reading

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【News】 Kagawa University studies how to feed edible rabbits without any medicine (May 23, 2016)

Kagawa University, based at Takamatsu-shi, Kagawa prefecture, has continued to study how to feed edible rabbits, with a view to adding a new business of rabbit feeding into the livestock industry in Japan. Rabbit meat is one of the common ingredients in European countries. The rabbit, however, has a nature of being vulnerable against medicine such as antibiotics. Researchers of the University, taking advantage of this nature, aim to stimulate new demand of organic rabbit meats in the country by developing a medicine-free method for feeding management. Domestic rabbit meats, produced only in Akita prefecture, has a small share in the distribution market of Japan. Almost of distributed rabbit meats … Continue reading

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【News】 Owls, grass voles’ natural enemy, come back to apple orchards in Hirosaki-shi, Aomori prefecture (May 20, 2016)

Owls, natural enemies of the Japanese grass voles, have come back to apple orchards in Hirosaki-shi, Aomori prefecture. Damages of apple trees caused by the grass voles were so serious at the orchards. By the last year, members of an apple producers’ group had fastened about 70 nesting boxes for the owls on the apple trees. Thirteen pairs of owls built their nests at the birdhouses and hollows of the trees this spring, where 35 baby birds hatched from eggs. At the apple orchards where owls built their nests, farmers have felt that the number of grass voles is decreasing. “Owls’ effect” has been brought about in the orchards. Behind … Continue reading

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【Opinion】 In a country where bureaucrats monopolize state secrets, TPP negotiations remain in the dark

By Ryuichi Teshima, Diplomatic Journalist and Writer Holding up heavily redacted documents on the negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks, opposition party lawmakers urged the government to disclose the details of the negotiations in the Diet sessions in April. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and other Cabinet ministers refused, saying the government cannot disclose the negotiation process since Japan joined the negotiations under the condition that it should be kept confidential. Opposition lawmakers were not convinced. They showed the manuscript of pre-publication memoirs authored by former farm minister Koya Nishikawa which reveals details of what went on in negotiations behind closed doors, and asked why the information cannot be disclosed … Continue reading

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【News】The Japan Agricultural News Photo Contest (Yearly Awards) (May 10, 2016)

Winners of the 41st Japan Agricultural News Yearly Photo Contest were announced. The first prize in Set Them Section, the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister’ Award, went to a Teruhiko Yono’s “Unaccustomed to carrying young rice plants.” The first prize in News Photo Section, Japan Agricultural News Award, was given to Reizo Sakamoto’s “Pasture invaded by alien plants.” These photos were chosen from the winners of monthly photo contests held during 2015. Please have a look at the award winning photos of the year. <Set Theme Section: Photos taken under the theme “Brilliance of Four Seasons”> Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister’ Award Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives   (JA-ZENCHU) Chairman’s … Continue reading

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